Word on the Street: City clerk's office no longer just a woman's world

Sunday

Mar 30, 2014 at 8:59 PMMar 30, 2014 at 9:08 PM

Chris Kaergard and Nick Vlahosof the Journal Star

Dan Sullivan represents something that’s been missing from the Peoria City Clerk’s office for 33 years.

When he began work Feb. 10, Sullivan became the first man employed in that department since 1981, according to City Clerk Beth Ball. The previous Y chromosome possessor was longtime Clerk William Kumpf, of Kumpf Boulevard fame.

“We are proud to have a male in our office,” Ball said as she introduced Sullivan during the City Council meeting last week. Ball’s next remark elicited substantial laughter:

“Although he’s highly qualified. That’s why he was hired.”

Sullivan has worked in municipal offices in West Peoria and Princeville. The Bartonville resident also spent 14 years as a process officer for the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

That job involved some high-risk propositions, including serving eviction papers. Sullivan, who received a history degree from Bradley University, said this gig is a better fit.

“The City Clerk’s office is the keeper of records, sort of the historian for the city,” he said. “I felt this was a good move for my family, too. I’m getting older, and I want to see my children grow up.

“It’s been a blessing for my family and an answer to my prayers.”

Sullivan’s primary job is to assist Stefanie Rice, the deputy city clerk, and provide Mayor Jim Ardis, City Manager Patrick Urich and council members with proper paperwork for meetings. Sullivan also helps make sure ordinances are signed, distributed and filed.

Females were in the majority in his other municipal workplaces, so Sullivan knew he’d have no problem joining this distaff staff. He was concerned about the Peoria women’s reaction, however.

“When I first interviewed, I didn’t know how they would deal with having a man in the office,” Sullivan said. “But it’s been absolutely fantastic. I’ve been working great with the ladies of the office, and they’ve been working great with me.”

And there will be no confusing him with anybody else, as was sometimes the case in Princeville.

Dan Sullivan is the name of the former boys basketball coach and current athletics director at Princeville High School. That Sullivan is retiring at the end of the school year. The Sullivans met not long after Clerk Dan began work in northern Peoria County.

“I said, ‘If you get phone calls from irate citizens because you sent them a code violation, it’s me, not you,’” the Peoria Sully said.

No word if he received phone calls from irate citizens because Princeville lost to Williamsfield. (N.V.)

Long memories

Speaking of the late Kumpf, the boulevard that bears his name was rechristened the year he retired. Remember what that thoroughfare was known as previously?

If you guessed Monson Street, you’ve been in Peoria a long time. Or are an expert user of Google, at least. (N.V.)

Tri-County transition

Thursday’s vote by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to settle its account with economic development consultant Frank Knott removed a long-festering issue from the group’s agenda.

But very quietly, without anybody in the meeting acknowledging it, the decision cleared away the final bit of detritus linking Tri-County and its process that birthed the new economic development group Focus Forward Central Illinois.

That’s good for both organizations. Tri-County is able to return to what it’s good at — transportation planning, river issues, environmental issues, to name but a few — and it reinforces what’s been true for months, that FFCI is its own entity. (That FFCI is working to stand on its own, with Knott sliding into the background more, is even more beneficial. It allows the locals who are going to be around for the long term to chart their own course.)

Meanwhile, there’s more significance to the vote coming when it did. Monday is the final day on the books for former Tri-County executive director Terry Kohlbuss, whose pay continued after his fall severance agreement. Interim executive director Dale Risinger takes up the reins on Tuesday. It’s an opportune time to leave behind the fights and controversies of the last year and start fresh.

Will that happen? It depends largely on how much some members try to re-litigate the past — rather than looking constructively forward — when considering a new personnel handbook next month. Also brewing is the decision over who the group’s next chairman will be in the summer. Both topics could be fraught with emotion; cooler, quieter heads prevailing would be a pleasant change. (C.K.)

Chris Kaergard (C.K.) covers politics and Peoria County government for the Journal Star. He can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard. Nick Vlahos (N.V.) covers Peoria City Hall. He can be reached at 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @VlahosNick. Read their blog online at www.pjstar.com/blogs/wordonweb.